Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC)
The June 22 piece under the world news section makes reference to Skopje’s claims on Macedonian history and states that Greece “also claims inheritance of the historical figure” in reference to the building of a statue in Skopje of Alexander the Great.
This is an absurd statement that implies a dispute on historical fact.
Alexander and the Macedonian heritage belong exclusively to the Greek nation. There is no dispute about this according to serious scholars, historians, and archeologists who have over the course of time examined the firsthand evidence from a non biased and objective perspective.
Tensions with Greece have been exacerbated and continue to worsen specifically as a result of unprovoked aggressions such as the building of this statue. The government in Skopje bears direct responsibility for provocations against Greece as well as European authorities which as the article notes is warning Skopje about its actions.
Greece has over a period of time extended good will toward Skopje by assisting it economically and establishing diplomatic recognition. In turn, Skopje continues to provoke Greece. Very clearly, Skopje should not be accepted in either the European Union or NATO. It is very clearly an aggressive and pariah state, and an undemocratic one at that.
Democratic countries do not covet the territory of neighboring countries nor do they distort serious history for the purposes of disseminating propaganda for the aim of establishing themselves with a history and heritage that belongs exclusively to someone else.
At this point in time when the Balkan countries are preparing to move forward, Skopje alone continues to ignite tensions while keeping alive its aggressive tendencies onGreek territory. Skopje is the greatest single cause of instability, tension, and hatred in the Balkan peninsula today.
Theodoros Karakostas
HEC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Macedonia Showered with Ancient Heroes Statues, Criticism/ June 22, 2011 , Wednesday
A massive statue of Alexander the Great on his horse Bucephalus stands on its position on a pedestal on Macedonia Square, the central square of the capital of Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 21 June 2011. Photo by EPA/’BGNES
Two new statues of Philip II of Macedon were opened Tuesday, one in Skopje and one in Bitola, as the Balkan country’s government continues its ambitious renovation plan. Even though Philip II was “outshone” by his son Alexander the Great, whose gigantic monument was opened later the same day, people flocked to see the father’s new statues, too.
On Tuesday, the controversial 13-meter high statue depicting Alexander the Great on horseback was officially opened in Skopje, adding fuel to the conflict with Greece, which also claims inheritance of the historical figure.
On Monday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said that if Macedonia continues to take actions perceived by Greece as “provocations” and fails to make faster progress in its reforms, the country could lose its EU candidate status. Meanwhile, Facebook users have started a peculiar initiative for the renaming of Skopje and Bitolia as Alexandria and Heraklea respectively in order to further emphasize what Macedonians perceive as their “ancient” history.
Since becoming an independent state in 1991, the ex-Yugoslav republic of Macedonia has had a number of protracted historical disputes with neighboring Bulgaria and Greece, in particular about the Macedonian or non-Macedonian nationality of a number of historical figures.
Among them are Alexander the Great and Tsar Samuil (997-1014), whom Bulgarians recognize as one of their great Medieval rulers.
Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC)
A Non-Profit Organization Registered in the US with 44,000 Hellenes as members and 36 Hellenic associations in the US and abroad
